How to reduce puffiness and bloating after festive meals
- Plant-based meals for 1–3 days. Load up on fresh vegetables — salads, blended soups, roasted veg — without added salt, sauces or dressings. This helps your body let go of extra fluid, restores electrolyte balance and is gentle on your gut.
- Morning yoga with twists. Twisting poses and inversions (if they’re right for you) get lymph, bile flow and digestion moving. Try to move more in general. A walk outside with your face to the sun helps reset your body clock.
- Contrast shower. Alternate hot and cold water. It’s great for getting lymph moving and easing puffiness.
- Swap sweets for fruit. Replace sweets with fresh fruit (apples, citrus, kiwi) or berries. Fructose that comes packaged with fibre won’t hurt — it actually helps keep blood sugar steady.
- Strength training, if you have the energy. A good time to train a muscle group that’s lagging behind. The holidays gave you a carb boost, so your muscles are full of glycogen: you’ll look more toned straight away, and your body will let go of water faster.
- More water and green juices. Drink plain water plus freshly pressed juices from cucumber, celery, parsley, spinach and other vegetables. They help restore electrolyte balance and support your kidneys.
- Bitter herbs and greens. Add rocket, radicchio, dandelion and chicory. They stimulate the gallbladder and support digestion.
- Berries for antioxidants. Raspberries, blueberries, cranberries (fresh or frozen) help with inflammation and puffiness.
- Magnesium for steadier blood sugar. It helps even out blood sugar levels and reduces water retention.
- Skip coffee and caffeine for a few days. Caffeine makes you lose more electrolytes and can make puffiness worse. Switch to herbal teas — peppermint, chamomile, fennel.
- Go to bed at your usual time. Don’t throw your routine out even further. An early night is one of the best things you can do to help your body recover.
Want a plan that fits your body and your routine? Book a session →
General information only, not medical advice. If you have a health condition, please talk to your GP.
